MAVCOM announced to launch an investigation in response to AirAsia Group CEO Fernandes’s video message

Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) announced to launch an investigation in response to AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes’s video message on 13 May, alleged interference from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Mr. Fernandes said he was pressurised to remove AirAsia X senior independent non-executive chairman Rafidah Aziz due to her involvement in opposition political campaigns, and “I refused to do so because I thought it was not the right thing to do” even though “It was getting harder and harder to resist the pressure from the Prime Minister’s Office”.

He also said the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) had “summoned” him to cancel 120 extra discounted flights which would have carried 26,000 people during the elections.

Tony Fernandes, one of Malaysia’s most respected and admired business figures has admitted to his mistake of endorsing scandal-tainted outed Prime Minister Najib Razak before Malaysia’s 14th general election, and said “under the intense pressure, I buckled. It wasn’t right, I’ll forever regret it but it was a decision made at the spur of the moment,”

In response to Mr. Fernandes allegations, the MAVCOM said in a statement “With reference to Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ claims in a video dated May 13, 2018, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) considers these claims serious allegations. We have immediately commenced an investigation into these claims. We will keep members of the public informed.”